Acoustic device



A. V. BODlNE ACOUSTIC DEVICE May 12, 1931.

Filed Nov. 30, 1926 INVENTOR. v AV. Bodi, e

ATT R/Vli) Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED V. BODINE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DICTAPHONE COR- PORATION, OF BRIDGEPOR'I, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ACOUSTIC DEVICE Application filed November 30, 1926.

This invention relates to sound-receiving and conveying devices for acoustical instruments, and more particularly to a speaking tube for dictation machines.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to provide a speaking tube for dictation machines with a detachable mouthpiece so that different mouthpieces might be used on the same speaking tube. In such devices, however, the means for permitting the removal of the mouthpiece were such as to make it difiicult and unsatisfactory to frequently change mouthpieces, because of the work involved in doing it. Yet, in some instances, it is extremely desirable that this be done, especially when several people make use of the same dictation machine. By having separate mouthpieces, each dictator may use his own and thus will not have to place, close to his mouth, a device which someone else had just previously used. The dicta-tors, hence Wlll. not run the risk of becoming infected by germs deposited on the mouthpiece by another person.

Another advantage of having a removable mouthpiece is that it may be more easily cleaned and, in fact, it may be sterilized occasionally without difliculty.

However, heretofore, as stated above, it was extremely diflicult and unhandy to remove the mouthpiece for this purpose. But, the present invention overcomes this dlfliculty by providing means for quickly and easily attaching and detaching a mouthpiece from the speaking tube. Moreover, the means provided by the present inventlon permit the speaking tube to be ad usted about the axis of the hand-held part of the speaking tube so that it may be easily moved to the position most convenient for the dictator.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanyin drawings, which show one embodiment o the invention, that at present preferred,

Figure 1 is a side view showing the mouthpiece of the present invention and the handheld part connected to the speaking tube.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the handheld part of the speaking tube and a portion Serial No. 151,647.

of the mouthpiece, showing the means for detachably securing the mouthpiece to the hand-held part.

Fig. 3 is a. transverse section line 33 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the speaking tube 10, which is connected to a dictating machine or other sound-receiving device, is connected by means of a ferrule 11 to a cylindrical tube 12, termed the handheld part or tube, which is a part which the operator grasps when using the device. On the hand-held part 12, there is a guard 13 which is intended to overlie part of the hand of the user so that the hand-held part 12 may be retained with very little effort. Opposite the guard 18, there is usually provided a stop-and-start button 14; which the operator depresses to control the dictation machine.

Mounted to slide over the upper end 15 of the hand-held part 12, is a ferrule or metallic sleeve 16 connected by rivets 17 or otherwise to a horn-shaped sound-receiving member or mouthpiece 18, which flares upwardly toward a lip portion 19 which is located at an angle to the axis of the handheld part 12, so that the hand-held part 12 may be held substantially vertically while the dictators head, when slightly inclined, will bring his lips in proximity to the lip portion 19 of the mouthpiece 18. The mouthpiece is preferably made of composition.

Since the ferrule 16 and the mouthpiece 18 telescope with the upper portion 15 of the hand-held part 12, the mouthpiece 18 maybe easily slid onto the hand-held part and held there, as was heretofore proposed, by means of a screw which, however, had to be removed before the mouthpiece could be detached from the handheld part.

Now, in order to permit the easy and quick removal and application of the mouthpiece 18 to the hand-held part 12 and also to permit the mouthpiece 18 to be adjusted about the axis of the hand-held part 12, the present invention provides a handheld part with a manually releasable catch 20, comprising a pin 21 mounted ona spring 22 anchored at 23 on the hand-held part 12, and a plurality of apertures 24 on the ferrule 16 with which the 1 taken on the When it is desired to remove the mouth.

piece 18, considering the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the button 25 is depressed so as to withdraw the catch pin 21 from theaperture :24, in which it is located in the ferrule 16. The mouthpiece is then slipped off, the ferrule 16 sliding over the end 15 of the hand-held part. Then it is desired to replace the removed mouthpiece or put a different mouthpiece on the hand-held part 12, the button 25 is depressed and the fer-rule 16 is slid'over the end 15 of the hand-held part 12. Then the dictator adjusts the mouthpiece about the axis of the hand-held part 12 until the lip 19 is located in the desired position wit-h respect to the guard 13 and button on the hand-held part 12. Then, the button 25 is released so as to permit the spring to force the catch pin 21 into one of the apertures 24. By iroviding a continuous ring-of apertures 2% around the ferrule 16, it is possible to adjust the mouthpiece 18 to the desired position with respect to the guard 13 and button 1% by merely depressing the button 25, turning the mouthpiece until it is in. the desired position, and then allowing the button 25 to spring out so that the catch pin 21 will engage the nearest perture 21.

With this arrangement, several persons may use a single dictation machine Without danger ofcontamination, because each person mayhave his own mouthpiece and may use it to the exclusion of all others.

It has been proposed heretofore, to remove V merely the lip. portion of the mouthpiece and to arrange for each person to have individual lip portion, This was satisfactory to some extent, but the removable portion was so short that the part permanently connected to the dictation machine was close enough to the dictators mouthpiece so that germs on these parts might be easily drawn into the dictators mouth While breathing. This danger is avoided by the present invention by removing not only the lip portion but also the horn-shaped connecting portion between the lip portion and the hand-held part. as Will be seen, from the drawing, the mouthiece, constituted by the horn-shaped part and the up part, has considerable length and, therefore, the parts which are common to the dictation machine and which are not removed,

namely, the hand-held part 12, is remote from the dictators mouth and there is very little danger of contamination due to germs which; are" lodged in the hand-held part 12 beingdrawn to the dictators mouth when breathing.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope ofthis invention and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is I 1. In combination, a hand-held part; a mouthpiece 'lidably connected to the hand held part and freely removable therefrom,

, and a spring catch comprising means mounted on the hand-held part, cooperating means on the mouthpiece, and manually operable releasing means to permit the easy removal 01 the mouthpiece from the hand-held part.

2. In combination, a hand-held part, a mouthpiece 'slida'bly fitting said hand-held part; and means for removably holding said mouthpiece on said handheld part comprising a pin, spring carrying said pin, and apertured means on the mouthpiece whose apertures are adapted for engagement with said pin.

3. In combination, a hand-held part; a mouthpiece slidably fitting said hand-held part; and means for removably holding said mouthpiece on said hand-held partcomprising a pin, a spring carrying said pin, apertured means on the mouthpiece whose apertures are adapted for engagement with said pin, and a manually operable part on said spring by means of which said pin may be withdrawn from the aperture in which it is located to perm-it the removal of said tube and mouthpiece from the hand-held part.

4. In combination, a speaking tube device for dictation machines comprising a handle; a mouthpiece comprising a lip portion and a horn-shaped portion adapted to slid-ably'fitover said handle; and a catch for holding the mouthpiece on said handle, said catch comprising manually operable means Whereby the catch may be released to permit the removal of the mouthpiece from the handle.

5. In combination, aspeaking tube device for dictation machines comprising ahandle; a mouthpiece mounted on said handle for ro tarv movement about the axis of the handle: and detentmeans for positively holding the mouthpiece against rotary movement in one of a plurality of predetermined adjusted positions about the axis of the handle.

6.111 combination, a speaking-tube device for dictation machines comprising a handle; a mouthpiece mounted on said handle and providedwith a circularly disposed series of apertures; and a manually operable catchon the handle adapted to engage 'one of said apertures in the mouthpiece to removably hold the mouthpiece on the handle.

-7. In combination, a speaking-tube device for dictation machines comprising a handle; a mouthpiece having an offset lip-portion mounted on said handle for rotary movement about the axis ofthe handle, said mouthpiece its being provided with a circularly disposed series of apertures; and a manually operable catch in the handle ada ted to en age one of said apertures to rigidly hold t e offset mouthpiece on the handle in a desired position on the handle determined by said aperture.

8. In a speaking tube device, the combination of a handle; a mouthpiece separable from said handle; and controllable means for connecting the handle and the mouthpiece; said means comprising a movable catch operable to effect said connection when in one position and to release said connection when in another position.

9. In a speaking tube device, the combination of a handle; a mouthpiece revolubly mounted thereon; and controllable means for clamping the handle and the mouthpiece against relative movement; said means comprising a manually operable catch adapted to prevent such relative movement when in one position and to permit such relative movement when in another position.

10. In a speaking tube device, the combination of a handle; a separate mouthpiece engageable therewith; and a catch normally maintaining said engagement and manually releasable to permit the removal of the mouthpiece from the handle.

11. In a speaking tube device, the combination of a handle; a separate mouthpiece engageable therewith; and means to control said engagement comprising a catch movable into and out of operative position.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 24th day of November, 1926.

ALFRED V. BODINE. 

